Wed 13 Sep, 2017, 7:00am
Media Release, NRL
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PM's XIII named for PNG tour match
Josh Dugan has been named in the Australian Prime Minister's XIII to play the PNG Prime Minister's XIII. Copyright: NRL Photos.
Mal Meninga has named six debutants as part of the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII to take on Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XIII in Port Moresby on Saturday 23 September.

Valentine Holmes, Andrew Fifita, Api Koroisau, Dylan Walker, Jack Bird and Paul Vaughan will take their place in the team travelling to PNG next week, with the match to be played at the National Football Stadium in the nation’s capital.

A further six players in the squad represented the Kangaroos in the ANZAC Test match earlier this year, with Tom Trbojevic the only player yet to have played a representative match at senior level.

With a little more than a month to go until the Rugby League World Cup, Meninga said the annual invitational match would be used as a genuine selection trial for players pushing for spots in the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad.

"I’m absolutely delighted with this team. We’ve chosen the best available players in each position with fifteen of the eighteen players having represented their State already," Meninga said.

"To get these guys together so close to the Rugby League World Cup is a real coup for our preparations, which will really kick into gear following the NRL Grand Final.

"Some of them have been fortunate enough to have already experienced playing in PNG, but for the new guys, it really is something to cherish. There’s nothing else quite like it.

"I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone gels together in a short timeframe and handles the occasion."

"Aaron has been a fantastic leader at Club and State level for a number of years now and has fully earned this honour," Meninga said.

"I’m looking forward to seeing him lead from the front on Saturday week against an always tough, physical and entertaining Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XIII team."

The Prime Minister’s XIII will also be involved in a series of events alongside the Harvey Norman Jillaroos including community visits and coaching clinics while on the ground in Papua New Guinea and are supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

I'm curious, so many Tigers fans think Woods is not captain's material but here he is, being handed national captaincy duties.

I think people are always tougher on their own players, than others are.

Ftr, I thought he is an alright captain, not the greatest, but certainly not as bad a many on here seem to think. Just because he didn't bark at everyone and jump around like an idiot doesn't mean he wasn't a good captain. He had the respect of his teammates and obviously has the respect of other players and coaches from other teams - those close to him would know better than us looking from afar, as they are the ones being affected by his captaincy, not us.

I think he is a more of a quiet encourager, who led by example, rather than a demonstrative, emotional type of captain who revs players up on the field, but that doesn't mean his captaincy is any less effective. In the same way, I think Taylor will be a good captain for us next season, despite many thinking he is too quiet also.

I'm curious, so many Tigers fans think Woods is not captain's material but here he is, being handed national captaincy duties.

Yea, but look at the team. I would have picked Papalii or Maloney personally but everyone else is new blood. Woods hasn't been a good captain, but I still rate him as a player.

Looking at the list, Mal must be glad that Manly and Cronulla lost!
No RPLA winner either.

Really, you don't think Graham or Josh Jackson had cases for captaincy?

I was thinking of Wade Graham actually. Can't remember why I did not put him down but yes. Better Captain then Woods. I don't think Josh Jackson as captain though, the Bulldogs have had a lot of people in front of Jackson for captain and he is still young. Yes, take captain away from Woods.

Woods is a pathetic captain, the big tranny looking gump can barely string a coherent sentence together even after all the interviews and television appearances he has had.
Mal did this as a thankyou and goodbye from test level. Only injuries should see him selected for the WC squad.

I can find obscure sports scores from countries I never knew existed let alone had a sports team but I can't find a a single thing about Aus v PNG international rugby league anywhere on the net at all. Is this game played on the moon or something? I'm baffled